The hugs were enough really, words weren’t needed to be spoken, hugs were enough

Danny Nightingale

He cut Sgt Nightingale’s sentence to 12 months suspended, ordered his immediate release and gave him leave to appeal his conviction. Sgt Nightingale plans to grab the chance to clear his name. His original sentence at court martial three weeks ago caused uproar, particularly as soon afterwards terror suspect Abu Qatada was freed to walk the streets of Britain.

Public anger was so great that more than 100,000 signed a petition calling for Sgt Nightingale’s release and he received letters of support from around the world.

In his wife’s fight for justice, she went to Downing Street to meet David Cameron’s Private Secretary. Mr Cameron let it be known he was “sympathetic”.

Sgt Nightingale, who has served 11 years in the SAS, described his ordeal on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He said the hardest part of being locked up was not knowing the “end date” and when he could return to his family – unlike when away on SAS operations.

He said: “It’s something that is totally different because all of a sudden you don’t know when you’re going to see your family.”

He said being locked up was “traumatic – like the shock of capture”. He then described the emotional turmoil he went through during Thursday’s appeal.

“It was a rollercoaster of nerves really and emotions, but fantastic, absolutely elated knowing that I am going to see my family and will be with them for Christmas. I prepared myself to be there for a lot longer. I think common sense prevailed.”

Mrs Nightingale said: “I knew we had a good case and thankfully it got the results we were after. Danny has been used as a scapegoat and they chose the wrong person to do that to.”

Sgt Nightingale, from Crewe, Cheshire, pleaded guilty last month to illegal possession of a pistol given him by Iraqi Special Forces whom he trained and some ammunition. But he forgot about the gun due to exceptional circumstances. He had to accompany the bodies of two fallen comrades from Iraq back to Britain so his belongings, including the trophy pistol, were packed up by someone else and shipped back.

Sgt Nightingale then suffered brain damage and memory loss after collapsing on a charity jungle marathon in the Brazilian Amazon. Civilian police accepted he had no criminal intent.

He pleaded guilty at his court martial in the hope of a lenient sentence, having been warned that if he contested the charges and was convicted he would face five years in prison. He added: “My feelings towards the military have not changed at all.” Asked whether he wanted to return to the SAS, he said: “As it stands, of course I do. The proudest moment of my life was the day I walked into that establishment.”

Sgt Nightingale is unlikely to be able to rejoin the SAS because he has sacrificed his anonymity in his fight for freedom. But he could continue to serve in the Army.